Nasal filter

ABSTRACT

A replacable, sectionalized filter cartridge is received within a casing which is adapted to be inserted and removed from the nasal passage. The filter cartridge is preferably formed with two filter sections, one a nylon, cilia-like membrane, and one a polypropylene cilia-like membrane. If desired, in an alternate embodiment, a third honeycomb section separating the outer sections may be provided. The materials which form the outer filter sections are so chosen as to become electrostatically charged responsive to the movement of air thereby.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier applicationSer. No. 610,259 filed Sept. 4, 1975 now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention is directed to a filter deviceinsertable into the nasal passages which includes a pair of flexiblecasings, generally corresponding in shape to the interior of the nasalpassage. Each casing releasably receives a filter cartridge which may beused for a period of time and then removed, discarded and replaced by anew cartridge.

The filter cartridges themselves preferably include two portions orfilter sections. In an upper section a porous membrane formed ofsuitable material carries a multitude of cilia-like, nylon filamentswhich act similarly to the natural cilia (minute hair) of the mucousmembrane of the human nose during the respiration process. As air movespast the nylon cilia and through the porous membrane which carries thenylon filament, the air movement causes the nylon material to becomeelectrostatically charged to aid in the filtering process.

The lower section of the filter cartridges is formed much in the way ofthe upper section, except the filamentary material is formed ofpolypropylene, which also becomes electrostatically charged as airpasses thereby. It is felt that the polypropylene charge will attractcertain of the contaminates from the air, while the nylon electrostaticcharge will attract other contaminates from the air.

If desired, a mechanical filter in the nature of a honeycomb typematerial formed of linen, or other such material may be provided toseparate the upper and lower filter sections and also to mechanicallyfilter certain contaminates from the air.

The nylon and polypropylene electrostatically charged cilia tend toseparate contaminates from the air by means of the phenomenon known as"electrostatic cling," such as exhibited in certain materials afterbeing washed and dried.

A nasal filter, such as described hereinabove, provides significantimprovements in various types of situations. For example, an efficientand effective filter of the type described herein could have tremendousbenefits in preventing bysinosis in the textile industry; brown lung andblack lung disease in the coal mining industry; lung hazards in thefurniture industries; for various allergies such as dust, pollen,cosmetic sprays and the like; could provide a discrete filtering devicefor persons working with toxic chemicals; and could prove useful forpersons in areas of high air pollution and in the farming industry. Ifdesired, one or more of the filter sections may be treated with amedicant such as mentholatum for people with allergies or with an enzymesuch as lysosymes (a bacteria killing enzyme normally present in humanbeings, but sometimes not present in sufficient quantity to preventinfection).

Very few attempts have been made in the past to provide a filterapparatus that is actually inserted into the nasal passage, and suchattempts have generally been limited to merely a screen or gauze filtercarried by some type of removable casing. Such attempts are illustratedin the United States Letters Patent to Beber No. 3,145,711 and WilsonU.S. Pat. No. 682,123. A similar type device is also illustrated anddescribed in German Pat. No. 668,393 of Dec. 2, 1938.

The removable cartridge of the present invention is considered to besubstantially superior to these efforts in that, first of all, theremovable filter cartridge is designed to substantially reconstruct thecilia of the mucous membrane normally present in the nasal passage,which however, due to our environment or due to allergies, has becomedamaged or destroyed.

Secondly, one or more of the filter sections within the removable andreplacable cartridges include a filamentary filter media which developan electrostatic charge as air passes therethrough. This charged filtersection aids in the filter process in that earlier filters were merelymechanical type such as screens or gauze which mechanically trap dustparticles, but cannot effectively collect smaller particles. Althoughsuch small particles may be smaller than the openings in a mechanicalfilter, they are harmful enough to cause irritation or damage to theuser. For example chemical gasses or other minute contaminates orpollutants which are harmful, yet very small, might easily pass througha screen or gauze filter. In the filter according to the presentinvention the electrostatic "cling" effect will be effective to collectparticles which are smaller than the openings of a mechanical filter.

Finally, the removable cartridge provides a filtering device which maybe easily changed as the filter becomes dirty with a minimum of troubleand effort.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a discretenasal filter exhibiting improved filter characteristics.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improvednasal filter of the type described in which a replaceable filter sectionis inserted into the nasal passage itself.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved nasalfilter device in which the filter section is designed to simulate thecilia-like portion of the mucous membrane of the interior of the nasalpassage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvednasal filter of the type described in which the filtering process isprimarily carried out electrostatically.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1, is an exploded, perspective view of the nasal filter accordingto the present invention, with the cartridge illustrated as beingremoved therefrom; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the nasal casingsillustrated in FIG. 1.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the invention, there isillustrated in FIG. 1 the nasal filter 10 according to the presentinvention which includes a pair of hollow tubular casings 12,14, each ofwhich is adapted to be inserted into one of the nostrils. A bridgingmember 16 connects the two casings 12,14 to prevent lodging of thecasings in the nostrils. A removable and replaceable filter cartridge 18in which the present invention resides is insertable in each of thecasings 12,14 as will be explained more in detail hereinafter.

In general, the filter cartridge 18 is designed to simulate the liningof the mucous membrane as closely as possible. In this respect, one ormore filter sections are provided and include a porous membrane formedof a synthetic material and having a plurality of fibers, filament orstrands depending therefrom, resembling to a significant extent theciliary nature of the mucous membrane. The synthetic cilia-like materialshould be formed of a material such as nylon or polypropylene whichbecomes electrostatically charged in the presence of air flow therepastto develop "electrostatic cling," which further enhances the filteroperation.

Turning now to a more specific description of one of the casings orcontainers 12,14, the casing should be formed of a porous, clear,resilient material such as vinyl, molded rubber or non-toxic, glyceringelatinous material. The casings are of such an exterior shape as to fitcomfortably within the nostril, and in this respect, are made in threebasic shapes and sizes, each one designed to conform to the shape of aCaucasic, Oriental, or Negroid nose.

Further, each casing comprises a tubular wall 20 having an upper rim 21,which engages and holds a grating member 22. Grating 22 comprises astainless steel mesh or grate covered with a vinyl material, and, ofcourse, includes openings therein through which air freely passes. Thelower end or rim 23 of wall 20 includes an annular wire member 24imbedded therein, so that the lower end can be unrolled or rolled toretain the removable cartridge 18 therein. As illustrated in FIG. 2, thecartridge 18 comprises a tubular outer wall 19 of such size and shape asto slip into wall 20 and remain therein by means of a friction fit inaddition to the upper grating 22 and rolled lower rim 23. Within thefilter cartridge 18 illustrated in FIG. 2 are three distinct filtersections 26, 32 and 34, although it should be realized that at least theintermediate section 32 could be omitted.

The upper filter section 26 includes a porous membrane or blanket 28formed of nylon or other similar material and having a plurality ofother openings therein so that air can freely pass therethrough. Aplurality of fibers 30 formed of nylon or other similar material haveone end retained within blanket 28 and extend downwardly therefrom toform the cilia-like effect.

The middle or intermediate section 32, which may be eliminated, ifdesired, is formed of a stiff material such as linen or the like foldedinto a honeycomb structure so that air is permitted to passtherethrough, however, is subjected to mechanical filtering.

The lower filter section 34 is similar to upper section 26, in that itcomprises also a porous membrane or blanket 36 formed of polypropyleneor other similar material. Blanket 36 is concave so as to be lessvisible when in place and also includes a plurality of polypropylenefibers or filament secured at one end thereto and extending upwardlyinto the filter section toward the honeycomb middle section 32.

Both the nylon and polypropylene cilia-like sections 30,38 will becomeelectrostatically charged as air passes through the filter creating"cling" which significantly improves the filter action of the device.Although nylon and polypropylene have been designated and preferablematerials, it is apparent that other materials which generateelectrostatic charge in the presence of moving air could be used withinthe scope of this invention.

The filter cartridges 18 according to the present invention can bemedicated in several ways. For example, the top of the honeycomb filtersection 32 may be treated with lysosyme (an enzyme normally present inthe nasal passage to kill bacteria, however, is in insufficient quantityin many people). Also, for people with allergies, the top of thehoneycomb area could be slightly metholated. Further, compositions couldbe added to insure that the filter is neither acidic or basic, andremains at a neutral pH of 7, at which both the ciliary nature of themucous membrane and the activity of the lysosymes are most effective.

Although the filter cartridge 18 according to the present inventionpreferably comprises at least two filter sections, it is apparent thatsatisfactory results could be achieved with only the upper or lowersection, without necessarily having both the nylon and polypropylenecilia-like sections 26,34.

Further, although a preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen described hereinabove, it is apparent that various changes andmodifications could be made to the invention without departing from thescope thereof, which is set forth in the following claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter device for insertion into the nasalpassage comprising:a. a hollow casing formed of a soft pliable materialand having an outer transverse dimension shaped substantially to conformto the contour of the inner wall of the nasal passage and an innertransverse dimension; b. a removable and disposable filter cartridgemeans carried within said casing and comprising:i. a housing havingouter transverse dimensions closely corresponding to the innertransverse dimensions of said casing for removable, yet stationarysupport within said casing; ii. at least one filter section formed of aporous membrane extending transversely across said housing; iii. amultiplicity of minute artificial fibers depending from said membrane,whereby said filter cartridge means simulates the natural cilia of themucous membrane.
 2. The filter device according to claim 1 wherein saidartificial fibers are formed of a material which generates anelectrostatic charge in the presence of moving air.
 3. The filter deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein said fibers are nylon.
 4. The filter deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said filter cartridge means comprises asecond, lower porous membrane spaced from the first mentioned porousmembrane and having a plurality of minute artificial fibers extendingupwardly therefrom.
 5. The filter device according to claim 4 whereinsaid filter cartridge means comprises a second type of filter sectionadjacent said first type of filter section, said second type of filtersection including filter material having a honeycomb configuration. 6.The filter device according to claim 4 wherein the artificial fibersextending from one membrane are formed of a material that generates anelectrostatic charge of one polarity in the presence of moving air, andthe fibers extending from the second membrane are formed of a materialthat generate an electrical charge, having an opposite polarity, in thepresence of said moving air.
 7. The filter device according to claim 1wherein said filter section is treated with a bacteriostatic enzymeknown as lysosyme.